Questions Youve Asked about the Old Testament BALAAM, GODS YOYO

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Questions Youve Asked about the Old
TestamentBALAAM, GODS YO-YO
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Balaam outside the Bible
Inscription of Balaam son of Beor,the seer-man
of the gods.Behold, the gods came to him at
night,and spoke to him with these wordsand
they said to Balaam son of BeorThe light has
shone its lastthe fire for judgment has shone.
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Methods of characterization

• Actions
• Speech
• Third-party testimony

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Characterization of Balaam

• Actions
• Show complete obedience
• Words
• Claim complete devotion
• Third-part testimonies
• Claim disobedience/opposition/greed
• Change of character?
• False/erroneous reporting?

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Messages from Balaams story

• Let God decide what Gods will is
• Exemplary obedience on one occasion doesnt
  guarantee exemplary obedience on later occasions
• Read with discernment (narratorial advocacy vs.
  reporting)

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Questions Youve Asked about the Old
TestamentBALAAM,GODS YO-YO

• Next Weeks Topic (August 4)
• JOSHUA AND GENOCIDE